Combination bed covering

ABSTRACT

A bed covering includes a coverlet having a display surface and an underside surface, a sheet having a main portion and an overhang portion, at least one first fastener for attaching the main portion of the sheet to the underside surface of the coverlet, and at least one second fastener for attaching the overhang portion of the sheet to the display surface of the coverlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A made bed is an important part of an aesthetically pleasing sleeping area. On a daily basis, a bed becomes the pallet for a domestic artist. To maintain the aesthetically pleasing appearance, the bed must be made after every use. Thus, the preferred bedclothes are not overly complex and are easy to set up. At the same time, the bedclothes should be easy to clean and should serve their primary purpose of providing the comfort and warmth to the user.

[0002] Traditionally, beds have had a bottom sheet, a top sheet, and a comforter or blanket of some type. The bottom sheet resides on the mattress and allows for added comfort while protecting the fabric surface of the mattress. The comforter keeps the user warm and can enhance the aesthetic appearance of the bed.

[0003] Comforters should provide warmth and comfort. The advantage of down comforters is warmth without weight. The down filler is lightweight and has an exceptional air-trapping capacity that creates an insulation barrier within the comforter shell that contains the down filler. However, the cleaning of the down comforters may be difficult because of their large bulk volume and the consequent difficulties in drying. To minimize the need for cleaning of the down comforter, consumers purchase duvets or comforter covers. Typically, a duvet or a comforter cover protects the comforter during use, and may be removed from the comforter shell and cleaned separately. While the use of covers simplifies cleaning, it does have certain disadvantages. The cover increases the weight, reducing the benefits of purchasing the down comforter in the first place. Also, the weight of the cover compresses the down filler to a certain extent, thus reducing its air-trapping ability. Finally, the down comforter has a tendency to slide around and form bunches inside the duvet or the cover.

[0004] A top sheet is an alternative to a comforter cover. Like the cover, the top sheet can be employed to protect the comforter and may be cleaned separately from the down comforter shell. However, the use of a top sheet may have its own drawbacks. Generally, the down comforters have a tendency to slide off the bed. For this reason, the comforter and the top sheet are typically tucked-in under the mattress, causing a loss of freedom for the user. Also, the process of making the bed is generally more difficult because of the need to align the top sheet with the comforter. The user must accurately fold and place multiple layers of bedclothes in order to achieve the desired visual appearance when the bed is not in use.

[0005] Therefore, there exists a need for a bed covering that allows simplified cleaning and minimizes the drawbacks associated with the prior art bed coverings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention addresses this need by providing a bed covering that includes a coverlet having a display surface and an underside surface, a sheet having a main portion and an overhang portion, at least one first fastener for attaching the main portion of the sheet to the underside surface of the coverlet, and at least one second fastener for attaching the overhang portion of the sheet to the display surface of the coverlet. The main portion of the sheet may have a surface area substantially equal to the surface area of the underside surface of the coverlet, while the overhang portion of the sheet may have a surface area that is smaller than the surface area of the display surface of the coverlet.

[0007] Preferably, the coverlet and the sheet are releasably attached to each other. Also, preferably, the at least one first fastener and the at least one second fastener are each independently selected from the group consisting of a button/buttonhole, snaps, zippers, VELCRO® attachments, and cloth ties. The preferred first fastener is at least one first button and at least one matching first buttonhole. Likewise, the preferred second fastener is at least one second button and at least one matching second buttonhole.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment, the underside surface of the coverlet bears the at least one first button and the display surface of the coverlet bears the at least one second button, with the main portion of the sheet having the at least one first buttonhole and the overhang portion of the sheet having the at least one second buttonhole. The at least one first button may be a plurality of the first buttons, with the main portion of the sheet including a plurality of the first buttonholes having locations matching the locations of the first buttons; the first buttons being inserted into the first buttonholes thereby the main portion of the sheet is releasably attached to the underside surface of the coverlet. Further the at least one second button may be a plurality of second buttons, with the overhang portion of the sheet having a plurality of the second buttonholes having locations matching the locations of the second buttons, the second buttons being inserted into the second buttonholes thereby the overhang portion of the sheet is releasably attached to the display surface of the coverlet.

[0009] Preferably, the coverlet includes a coverlet upper edge, a coverlet lower edge, a coverlet left edge, and a coverlet right edge, and the sheet includes a sheet upper edge, a sheet lower edge, a sheet left edge, and a sheet right edge; wherein the coverlet lower edge is aligned with the sheet lower edge, the coverlet right edge is aligned with the sheet right edge, and the coverlet left edge is aligned with the sheet left edge, with the main portion of the sheet-being in a face-to-face relationship with the underside surface of the coverlet, and the overhang portion of the sheet being in a face-to-face relationship with at least a part of the display surface of the coverlet.

[0010] In the preferred variant, the first buttons may be located along the coverlet right edge, the coverlet left edge and the coverlet lower edge. The first buttons may be substantially equidistant from each other. Also, the coverlet and the sheet may be substantially rectangular. The coverlet may be a down comforter that includes a shell and a down filler.

[0011] In the preferred variant, the bed covering includes a comforter shell defining an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge, and having an underside surface bearing at least one first button and a display surface bearing at least one second button; and a top sheet defining an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge, and including a main portion having at least one first buttonhole and an overhang portion having the at least one second buttonhole;

[0012] wherein the lower edge, the right edge, and the left edge of the comforter shell are respectively aligned with the lower edge, the right edge, and the left edge of the top sheet thereby the main portion of the top sheet is in a face-to-face relationship with the underside surface of the comforter shell, the upper edge of the top sheet is folded over the upper edge of the comforter shell thereby the overhang portion of the top sheet is in a face-to-face relationship with at least a part of the display surface of the comforter shell, and the at least one first button is inserted into the at least one first buttonhole, and the at least one second button is inserted into the at least one second buttonhole thereby the top sheet is releasably attached to the comforter shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A more accurate appreciation of the subject matter of the present invention and the various advantages thereof can be realized by reference to the following detailed description, which makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the bed covering in accordance with the preferred aspect of the invention in a released configuration;

[0015]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the bed covering shown in FIG. 1A in an assembled configuration;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the bed covering of the invention in a released configuration;

[0017]FIGS. 3A and 3B are top view of the underside and display surfaces, respectively, of the comforter shell of the bed covering shown in FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a top view of the top sheet of the bed covering shown in FIG. 2;

[0019]FIGS. 5A and 5B show schematic side views of the bed covering shown in FIG. 2 in partially and fully assembled configurations, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In accordance with the preferred aspect, the invention provides a bed covering 10 that includes a coverlet 20 and a sheet 30 attached to each other (FIGS. 1A and 1B). The coverlet 20 may be a comforter, a spread, or other similar component of bedclothes. The sheet 30 may be any component of bedclothes suitable for protecting the coverlet 20 during use. Preferably, the sheet 30 is a single piece of lightweight fabric similar to a conventional top sheet. The coverlet 20 and the sheet 30 are preferably attached via releasable attachment. As seen in FIG. 1A, the coverlet 20 has a display surface 21 and an underside surface 22. The coverlet 20 also has a fold-over edge 23. To attach the sheet 30, the coverlet 20 is brought into contact with the sheet 30 as shown by arrow I, with the fold-over edge 23 aligned with a fold-over boundary 33 of the sheet 30. The boundary 33 divides the sheet 30 into at least two portions: a main portion 31 and an overhang portion 32. The main portion 31 is in a face-to-face relationship with the underside surface 22 of the coverlet 20, while the overhang portion 32 lies outward from the coverlet 20 across the fold-over boundary 33. The underside surface 22 is fastened to the main portion 31 of the sheet 30 by at least one first fastener 44 (not shown). Then, the overhang portion 32 of the sheet 30 is folded over the edge 23 of the coverlet 20 substantially along the boundary 33 (shown by arrow II). The overhang portion 32 is fastened to the display surface 21 by at least one second fastener 46 (not shown). FIG. 1B shows the assembled bed covering 10. When the bed covering 10 is used on a bed, the main portion 31 of the sheet 30 is positioned between the underside surface 22 and the user, thus protecting the coverlet. Preferably, at least a part of the display surface 21, which may be of artistic quality to provide an aesthetically pleasing visual appearance, is open to the room environment. To detach the sheet 30, the fasteners 44 and 46 are unfastened.

[0021] Various features and alternatives of the coverlet 20 and the sheet 30 are contemplated. Thus, the coverlet 20 may have any desired size, e.g., king, queen, twin, etc. Preferably, the coverlet 20 includes a shell 20 a that contains a filler 20 b (not shown). The filler of the coverlet 20 may be a down filler, a synthetic filler or any other suitable filler material. Preferably, the filler 20 b is a down filler, and the coverlet 20 is akin to a down comforter. The sheet 30 can be made of any suitable fabric and may have a desired external pattern. Also, it should be understood that while FIGS. 1A and 1B show that the coverlet 20 and the sheet 30 are rectangular, the invention contemplates other shapes and forms for the components of the bed covering 10. Likewise, while the fold-over edge 23 and the fold-over boundary 33 are shown as linear, the cooperation between the coverlet 20 and the sheet 30 may be different, depending on the shape and form of the coverlet and the sheet. Further, locations, pattern(s), number and nature of the fasteners 44 and 46 may vary. The fasteners 44 and 46 may be the same or different, and may include, for example, buttons/buttonholes, snaps, zippers, VELCRO® attachments, or cloth ties. The preferred arrangement of the fasteners 44 and 46 is described in reference to the preferred embodiment of the bed covering of the invention.

[0022] The bed covering 10 is flexible and easy to use and clean. The sheet 30 protects the coverlet 20 from becoming soiled, and can be detached and cleaned separately from the coverlet. While a particular sheet is in cleaning, the user can utilize a different sheet. The sheets may also be interchanged to give the bed covering 10 a desired look and feel. Also, the sheets and the coverlets may be interchanged, for example, to utilize lighter bedclothes for warmer nights and heavier bedclothes for colder nights.

[0023] The bed covering 10 is believed to have a number of advantages over the prior art. In comparison to the typical top sheet/comforter arrangement, the bed covering 10 simplifies the bed making process. To make a bed, the assembled bed covering 10 is simply draped over the bed. With the bed covering 10 providing already configured and aligned bed setup, the user no longer has to align the top sheet and the comforter after every use. At the same time, the weight of the sheet 30 may be similar to the weight of a typical top sheet, thus minimizing disadvantages associated with the use of a duvet. Likewise, the coverlet 20 is not likely to form bunches typically associated with the use of comforter covers.

[0024] FIGS. 2-5 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the bed covering of the invention. The bed covering 100 includes a comforter shell 200 and a top sheet 300, both having substantially rectangular shapes (FIG. 2). FIG. 2 shows the bed covering 100 in a released configuration, in which the top sheet 300 is detached from the comforter shell 200. The comforter shell 200 has a display surface 210 and an underside surface 220. Preferably, the surface area X of the comforter shell 200 is smaller than the surface area of the top sheet 300. The top sheet 300 may be divided into portions 314 and 316 along a fold-over line 315. When the bed covering 100 is assembled, the portion 314 of the sheet 300 comes into a face-to-face contact with the underside surface 220 of the comforter shell 200. In the preferred variant, the surface area Y of the portion 314 is substantially equal to the area X of the shell 200, and the surface area Z of the portion 316 is smaller than the surface area X.

[0025] The comforter shell 200 is defined by an upper edge 215, a lower edge 254, a left edge 256, and a right edge 258 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). The shell 200 may have a decorative border 230 located along the left edge 256, the bottom edge 254, and the right edge 258. The underside surface 220 bears first buttons 264 located adjacent to the edges 254, 256, and 258 (FIG. 3A). The display surface 210 bears second buttons 266 located near the edges 256 and 258 (FIG. 3B). The buttons 264 and 266 are used to fasten the top sheet 300 to the comforter shell 200.

[0026] The top sheet 300 is a single rectangular piece of fabric (FIG. 4). It is defined by an upper edge 342, a lower edge 354, a left edge 356, and a right edge 358. The top sheet 300 may have a decorative border 330 along the edges 354, 356, and 358. The upper edge 342 has a header 370. The fold-over line 315 divides the top sheet 300 into the portions 314 and 316. The portion 314 has first buttonholes 364 and the portion 316 has second buttonholes 366. The first buttonholes 364 and the second buttonholes 366 cooperate with the first buttons 264 and the second buttons 266, respectively, to attach and detach the top sheet 300 and the comforter shell 200. Thus, if the edges 354, 356, and 358 of the top sheet 300 are substantially aligned with the respective edges 254, 256, and 258 of the comforter shell 200, the locations of the first buttonholes 364 match the locations of the first buttons 264 on the underside surface 220 of the shell 200. Likewise, if the upper edge 215 of the shell 200 is substantially aligned with the fold-over line 315 and the portion 316 is folded over the edge 215, the locations of the second buttonholes 366 match the locations of the second buttons 266 on the display surface 210 of the shell 200.

[0027] To attach the top sheet 300, the lower edge 354 of the sheet 300 is aligned with the lower edge 254 of the comforter shell 200, and the first buttons 264 are inserted into the first buttonholes 364 (FIG. 5A). In this manner, the underside surface 220 of the comforter shell 200 is fastened to the portion 314 of the top sheet 300. The left edge 256 and the right edge 258 of the shell 200 are also aligned with the respective edges 356 and 358 of the top sheet 300. After the attachment of the portion 314, the upper edge 215 of the shell 200 lies along the fold-over line 315 of the top sheet 300. To complete the attachment, the portion 316 of the sheet 300 is folded over the upper edge 215 of the coverlet 200 (shown by arrow A) and the second buttons 266 are inserted into the second buttonholes 366 (FIG. 5B).

[0028] In the most preferred variant of the bed covering 100, the shell 200 is a down comforter shell having a square shape with all edges being approximately 86 inches long. The underside surface 220 has nineteen buttons 264 that are substantially equidistant from each other. The display surface 210 has two buttons 266 located approximately twelve inches from the upper edge 215. The top sheet 300 is rectangular and has a matching pattern design. The right edge 356 and the left edge 358 are approximately 98.5 inches long. The header 370 of the top sheet 300 is approximately three inches wide. It is contemplated that the bed covering 100 is distributed and sold with the top sheet 300 fastened to the comforter shell 200.

[0029] Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A bed covering comprising: a coverlet having a display surface and an underside surface; a sheet having a main portion and an overhang portion; at least one first fastener for attaching said main portion of said sheet to said underside surface of said coverlet; and at least one second fastener for attaching said overhang portion of said sheet to said display surface of said coverlet.
 2. The bed covering of claim 1, wherein said coverlet and said sheet are releasably attached to each other.
 3. The bed covering of claim 2, wherein said at least one first fastener and said at least one second fastener are each independently selected from the group consisting of a button/buttonhole, snaps, zippers, VELCRO® attachments, and cloth ties.
 4. The bed covering of claim 1, wherein said main portion of said sheet has a surface area substantially equal to the surface area of said underside surface of said coverlet.
 5. The bed covering of claim 1, wherein said overhang portion of said sheet has a surface area that is smaller than the surface area of said display surface of said coverlet.
 6. The bed covering of claim 2, wherein said at least one first fastener comprises at least one first button and at least one matching first buttonhole.
 7. The bed covering of claim 6, wherein said at least one second fastener comprises at least one second button and at least one matching second buttonhole.
 8. The bed covering of claim 7, wherein said underside surface of said coverlet bears said at least one first button and said display surface of said coverlet bears said at least one second button; said main portion of said sheet having said at least one first buttonhole and said overhang portion of said sheet having said at least one second buttonhole.
 9. The bed covering of claim 8, wherein said at least one first button comprises a plurality of said first buttons; said main portion of said sheet comprising a plurality of said first buttonholes having locations matching said locations of said first buttons; said first buttons being inserted into said first buttonholes thereby said main portion of said sheet is releasably attached to said underside surface of said coverlet.
 10. The bed covering of claim 9, wherein said at least one second button comprises a plurality of second buttons; said overhang portion of said sheet having a plurality of said second buttonholes having locations matching said locations of said second buttons, said second buttons being inserted into said second buttonholes thereby said overhang portion of said sheet is releasably attached to said display surface of said coverlet.
 11. The bed covering of claim 10, wherein said coverlet comprises a coverlet upper edge, a coverlet lower edge, a coverlet left edge, and a coverlet right edge, said sheet comprising a sheet upper edge, a sheet lower edge, a sheet left edge, and a sheet right edge; wherein said coverlet lower edge is aligned with said sheet lower edge, said coverlet right edge is aligned with said sheet right edge, and said coverlet left edge is aligned with said sheet left edge; said main portion of said sheet being in a face-to-face relationship with said underside surface of said coverlet; said overhang portion of said sheet being in a face-to-face relationship with at least a part of said display surface of said coverlet.
 12. The bed covering of claim 11, wherein said first buttons are located along said coverlet right edge, said coverlet left edge and said coverlet lower edge.
 13. The bed covering of claim 12, wherein said coverlet and said sheet are substantially rectangular.
 14. The bed covering of claim 1, wherein said coverlet is a down comforter comprising a shell and a down filler.
 15. The bed covering of claim 12, wherein said first buttons are substantially equidistant from each other.
 16. A bed covering comprising: a comforter shell defining an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge, and having an underside surface bearing at least one first button and a display surface bearing at least one second button; and a top sheet defining an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge, and including a main portion having at least one first buttonhole and an overhang portion having said at least one second buttonhole; wherein said lower edge, said right edge, and said left edge of said comforter shell are respectively aligned with said lower edge, said right edge, and said left edge of said top sheet thereby said main portion of said top sheet is in a face-to-face relationship with said underside surface of said comforter shell, said upper edge of said top sheet is folded over said upper edge of said comforter shell thereby said overhang portion of said top sheet is in a face-to-face relationship with at least a part of said display surface of said comforter shell, and said at least one first button is inserted into said at least one first buttonhole, and said at least one second button is inserted into said at least one second buttonhole thereby said top sheet is releasably attached to said comforter shell. 